Well Heeled? UNC Breaks From Tradition And Allows Signage

The Univ. of North Carolina (UNC) Board of Trustees has given school officials “formal permission to explore possibilities for permanent signs in the Kenan Stadium football facility and the Smith Center basketball arena,” according to Ken Tysiac of the CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, who notes the board must approve any signs. UNC’s scholarship funding needs “won out over concern that the school would be ‘selling out’ to corporate interests if signs are installed.” UNC SID Steve Kirschner: “It’s a fundamental choice. Do you choose to have a 28-sport program and try to be competitive in it? Or do you say, we’re going to take some limited, tasteful corporate signs at those two facilities and not have to eliminate scholarships? That’s the bottom line.” UNC AD Dick Baddour said that naming rights for the two facilities are “not for sale” (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 7/23).